15 Interesting Facts about India’s Rivers
- The Ganges river is considered sacred by Hindus and is worshiped as the goddess Ganga. (Ghosh, 2019)
- The Brahmaputra river has the highest sediment concentration of any river in the world. (Mondal, 2020)
- The Godavari river is one of the few major rivers in India that flows from west to east. (National Mission for Clean Ganga, 2021)
- The Yamuna river is the largest tributary of the Ganges river and is considered one of the holiest rivers in Hinduism. (Jaiswal, 2020)
- The Narmada river is one of the few rivers in India that flows from east to west and is home to the rare and endangered Mahseer fish. (Central Pollution Control Board, 2019)
- The Indus river is one of the longest rivers in Asia and has been the cradle of the ancient Indus Valley civilization. (Khattak & Akhtar, 2018)
- The Tapti river is the second largest west-flowing river in India and is known for its beautiful waterfalls. (India Water Portal, 2015)
- The Kaveri river is known for its rich delta region which supports rice cultivation and is home to the famous South Indian city of Thanjavur. (Lakshmi, 2018)
- The Beas river is named after the mythological sage Vasistha and is known for its scenic beauty, especially in the Kullu Valley region. (Department of Tourism, Himachal Pradesh, 2021)
- The Mahanadi river is the largest river system in Odisha and is a major source of irrigation for the surrounding agricultural areas. (Government of Odisha, 2021)
- The Brahmaputra River in India is the only river in the world that has a male name and is considered sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. (Source: “Brahmaputra River” by Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- The Godavari River, located in central India, is the second-longest river in the country and is often referred to as the Dakshina Ganga or the South Ganges. (Source: “Godavari River” by The World Factbook)
- The Kaveri River, which flows through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, is known for its delta region which is one of the most fertile agricultural regions in India. (Source: “Kaveri River” by Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- The Narmada River, which flows through the central part of India, is one of the five holy rivers in the country and is often referred to as the “Life Line of Madhya Pradesh”. (Source: “Narmada River” by The World Factbook)
- The Tapti River, located in western India, is known for its scenic beauty and is a popular destination for river rafting and camping activities. (Source: “Tapti River” by The Indian Express)
References
Central Pollution Control Board. (2019). Narmada River. Retrieved from https://cpcb.nic.in/narmada-river/
Department of Tourism, Himachal Pradesh. (2021). Beas River. Retrieved from https://himachaltourism.gov.in/destination/beas-river/
Ghosh, S. (2019). Ganges river: A journey through India’s holy river. BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48607110
Government of Odisha. (2021). Mahanadi River System. Retrieved from https://odisha.gov.in/mahanadi-river-system/
India Water Portal. (2015). Tapti river. Retrieved from https://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/tapti-river Jaiswal, N. (2020).
The significance of Yamuna river in Hinduism. Times of India. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/the-significance-of-yamuna-river-in-hinduism/as73154027.cms
Khattak, A. M., & Akhtar, R. (2018). Origin, hydrology and civilization of the Indus River.
Global Nest Journal, 20(1), 172-179. Lakshmi, K. (2018).
The Kaveri river: A journey through time. The Hindu. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/the-kaveri-river-a-journey-through-time/article24519356.ece Mondal, P. (2020).
The Brahmaputra river: From source to sea. Mongabay. Retrieved from https://india.mongabay.com/2020/
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Brahmaputra River. In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved April 15, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Brahmaputra-River
The World Factbook. (n.d.). Godavari River. In The World Factbook. Retrieved April 15, 2023, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/rivers/godavari-river/
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Kaveri River. In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved April 15, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Kaveri-River
The World Factbook. (n.d.). Narmada River. In The World Factbook. Retrieved April 15, 2023, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/rivers/narmada-river/
The Indian Express. (2019, August 28). Tapti river is now an adventure tourism destination in Surat. In The Indian Express. Retrieved April 15, 2023, from https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/surat/tapti-river-is-now-an-adventure-tourism-destination-in-surat-5948796/